Early History

   The Harbour House Museum, located at 17 North Fourth Street is estimated to have been built in 1900, as tax records showed a marked increase in property value that year. The house was designed in the �steamboat� style of architecture with wrap-around twin porches and constructed of cement blocks.  Fred Floodstrand, a local master mason and bricklayer, built the house.  The Paint River valley can be seen from the east side of the house.

The Harbour Family

      John Harbour, an Irish born Catholic, was the family patriarch.  He was an enterprising man who owned and operated a boarding house on Superior Avenue, a saloon, a farm and several other businesses dating back to the 1890s.  He also held many positions of trust in the city and township.  He died in January 1913 at age 61.  Ellen (O�Connor) Harbour was born in 1857 and died in 1930 at the age of 73.  After  her husband�s death, she took in borders to help supplement her income.

   The Harbours had five children, one son�James, and four daughters�Mary Ellen �Minno,� Julia Maude �Maude,� Belva and Lucetta.

   James died of consumption in 1906 at age 33.  He left behind his wife and a young daughter, Mildred.  Mildred lived with the elder Harbours until her death from tuberculosis in July 1913 at age 12.

   Minno was born in 1874.  Early on she worked as a secretarial aide to local attorney, Michael Moriarty.  She later married and moved away.  She returned to Crystal Falls, and the family home as a widow in 1956.  She died in 1971 at age 97.

   Maude, born in 1882, became a teacher.  She married Timothy Murphy and the couple lived in the Harbour home where they raised three children�Jack, Nella Maude and Robert �Tim.�

   Belva married Marcus Schaaf and had twins�Marcus and Marjorie �Miv.�  Miv became a free-lance writer and often writer about her fond memories of Crystal Falls and her family. 

   Lucetta was born in 1887 and attended Eastern Michigan University and Lansing Business College.  She served as Secretary to the Detroit Board of Education. She retired in 1949 and returned to Crystal Falls and the family home. She died in 1964 at age 76.

 A Home for Many Families

   The Harbour House would eventually be occupied by a number of local families in-cluding the George Hrokins, Ray Wests, Pembertons and Murrays.  The First National Bank of Crystal Falls assumed ownership and, in 1982, Mr. Howard Koob purchased the home for the Crystal Falls Museum Society for $10,000.

A Heritage Center is Born

    The Harbour House Museum has undergone extensive renovation and exhibit development with the help of volunteer labor, monetary and material donations.

   The first floor has been restored to a turn of the century setting, a kitchen, dining room, parlor and library are located here.  The library houses many reference materials and Visitors are welcome to do research in our library that includes:

�      The Diamond Drill Newspaper � weekly paper from 1887 � 1997.  We also have this on micro film but we do not have a printer, but we can make copies from the actual newspaper.

�      Crystal View Newspaper  1998-2000

�      Burial Records from The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Crystal Falls 1900 � 2004

�      French Connection � 5 volumes compiled by David DeRoche and Wayne Ohlsson that is a genealogical study of French Canadians in the area

�      Obituary files

�      The Northern Peninsula of Michigan and its People published in 1911 Vol. 1 and II

�      Superior Heartland � a Backwoods History by C. Fred Rydholm. Vol. I & II

�      Forest Park School Annuals � Trojan 1956-60

�      Crystalite school annual 1947-49, 51, 55

�      Centennial Souvenir Book of Crystal Falls = 1880 � 1980

�      In This Life � a collection of stories compiled by Forest Park Freshmen and Junior English classes of 1992 � 3

�      A Study of Ethnic Groups � settlers in the Crystal Falls area

�      Our City�s Story � written by students from Forest Park

�      In Finnish - Michigan Suomalaisten Historia by Armas K.E. Holmio

�     Kirkkollinen Kalenteri (many volumes of the Church Calendar)

�     And volumes of Kansan-valistsusseuran Kalenteri

�      Files of Photos � people and places in Crystal Falls

�      Composite pictures of many of the graduating classes from Forest Park High School.  (these are on display during the summer months for the class reunions)

�      Other miscellaneous books

and staff is available to provide assistance.   There is a nominal charge for photo copies. 

 The second floor has six exhibit rooms: 

1. The Mining and Logging Room contains artifacts and pictures of two industries that helped create Crystal Falls.
2. The Women�s Room features an open steamer trunk, a display of vintage clothing and accessories, religious items and gadgets and other conveniences used in the home at the turn of the century.
3. The Trophy/Sports Room showcases photos and trophies from school and community events.
4. The Veteran�s Room features artifacts, photos and items from the Civil War through the Gulf War. Of particular interest are the scrapbooks compiled by local residents during World War II.
5. The Children�s Antique Toy Room is a delightful experience for young and old. Included are a miniature carousel, toys and dolls
6. The Ojibwe Indian Room is a tribute to the many generations of Indian people who lived in the area.  This room is dedicated to the memory of Charlotte Bennet Eckerberg, mother of the late Julia Nyholm, a local resident.  The exhibit includes items from the personal collection of Dr. Earl R. Nyholm, Mrs. Eckerberg�s grandson.

The Harbor House Museum is open from the first Tuesday in June through the last Saturday in August.  Guided tours are available 10:00 a.m.�2:00 p.m., Tuesday�Saturday or by special appointment.

      There is a modest admission fee to tour the Museum. Donations and memorials are accepted.

Harbour House Museum Thanks Volunteers
and Highlights from 2010 Season

This past year, the Harbour House Museum has received numerous time, talent and monetary contributions to accomplish our mission of preserving, exhibiting and sharing the history of Crystal Falls.  We want to acknowledge with thanks all who donated in 2010. 

During the early part of the year, our volunteers developed a new brochure, provided research assistance for people looking for their ancestors, designed and coordinated a calendar of events for our website and provided links to the City of Crystal Falls, and the Iron County Chamber sites, and took part in the Iron County Chamber Show.  When it came time to open the Museum, 15 volunteers showed up with buckets and mops, and lots energy to polish and shine the interior for our opening in June. 

More than 20 volunteers worked throughout the summer as docents to inform our visitors about the Museum and gave details about our special exhibits, which included the History of Area Churches held in June and a special Antique Toys, Games and Other Fun Stuff display in July. Because the Crystal Falls Bass Festival (held in July) generally includes class reunions among the festivities, the Museum once again hosted a special exhibit of Crystal Falls High School graduation photo composites where classmates could not only meet and greet, but spend time reminiscing. During the annual Humongous Fungus Festival in August, Museum volunteers hosted the Mushroom Cook Off where numerous unique and tasty dishes were prepared and judged, and later enjoyed by the public.

The gardens were planted and maintained, the porches repaired and painted and interior �honey do� list items completed by volunteers.  We could not have done this without the commitment and support of so many wonderful people. We thank you.

We wish to acknowledge the many volunteers who baked, donated and helped serve the yummy pies and �awesome� chili which are part of our tradition for the late September Harvest Fest celebration each year.   And, once again, we want to thank the Forest Park Elementary School for allowing us the opportunity to share our Museum and the history of Crystal Falls with the first grade children. We so enjoy having them visit.

The Museum Board maintains winter office hours at the City Hall (basement, former council chambers) generally on Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Microfilm copies of the Diamond Drill are available for review. The Museum Board meets monthly from February  through November, to discuss ideas, projects and activities for the upcoming year.

For information about the Museum, or if you would like to become a volunteer, please phone Jackie Rowan, President (906) 875-3454 or contact us at P.O. Box 65, Crystal Falls, MI  49920, or at info@harbourhousemuseum.org.